sejman

What shops in the Midwest [north Indiana or south Michigan] has successfully done the new Whipple's on HP500EFI's. I plan on this installation on my 380 Powerquest before the spring boating season. Coments?

Bruce

I haven't done the new 500 EFI kit but have installed Whipple Supercharger's and stock one kit. Feel free to email me directly or call 314-952-0861 with specific questions.

blown formula

I'm happy you are going to join the Blown world fo boating. However, before you do the deed. I think you (unless you just like throwing money away) should make one post on OSO....
How many people have blown drives using Whipples vs how many people have blown them using ProChargers?
A friend at our lake with a 36-38 BAJA twin 502efi's has had nothing but trouble with his Whipples. Had to replace one engine twice. Whipples put sudden power off idle (where the greatest strain on the drive is- heavy boat + high torque=maximum load/stress), where Prochargers are "softer" off idle, but less strain. Total boost may or not be the same....the Procharger efficiency keeps improving as rpm increase, Whipples flatten out or lose efficiency at high rpm (a characteristic of positive displacement superchargers). It is a trade off. I have never had a drive or engine problem or failure (I use Procharger). Also, it is said the new Prochargers (self contained) are QUIETER than the Whipple's. (a sleeper?) I can only recommend you ask the manufacturer his recommendations for an installer. Best of Luck!

Cat & Mice

I don’t' want to start some big pissin match, But I totally disagree with 93Formula, Sorry Man I just have my own opinion and my own experiences.
You can blow a drive with a stock 502 if you hammer it all of the time. I have had only Whipples so I can’t comment on the Prochargers but I have not ever blown a drive or had any engine troubles (I have had many different boats w/Whipples).
I have owned and installed a lot of Whipples and have only had a good experience. You are right about the Whipples making more power at low RPM’s but I believe you are wrong about them losing efficiency. Since most boating is done in the lower to mid RPM range I would personally prefer to have the power there. And I know for a fact that Whipples make a lot of power at the top end as well (see Feb Hot Boat and look at the article Sizzlin Small Blocks) My boat does very well on the top end.
I could go into technical reasons all day long but all I have to say is that I have only had great experience with Whipples products and there support. I have on the other hand heard a lot of problems with Procharger but I do not have any first hand experience.

Don’t take this personally, It is OK for people to disagree.

Pyle

Raypanic

I would agree from what I have read over the years the procharger is more of a soft start than the whipple. I sure you can blow drive with both. In my opinion it is the drives that are the problem, they simply cant handle the extra power. Count on upgrading the drives with either option. Or take your chances and try and take it easy on them and hope for the best. I personally know of two well known engine builders have had tuning problems the the procharger systems. Both perfered the Whipple because of that.

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: Raypanic ]

Raypanic

I just had whipples on my PQ (502Mags) Last fall. It is a different setup but with the same type of blower unit. So far I am very impressed with the power produced. See my Dyno sheets :http://www.jlmwholesale.com/ray/WhippleInstall/whipple.html.

This spring I will have more experience though.

blown formula

Pyle, that's what makes the world go round ...different insights. That's cool. Most user problems with Prochargers have been a result of not getting the fuel management correct, especially on carb'd versions. A competent professional such as Dean Nickerson works wonders with fuel system reworks. Amazing. There are also specialist for the EFI world. Please don't misunderstand me here, I am not "knocking" Whipples, it's simply that there are major differences in how the different chargers work. The efficiencies I spoke of were quated from a comparison article of positive displacement & centrifical superchargers & published by POKER RUN MAGAZINE last year. I provided about 75 copies to OSO members (via fax only). I certainly agree everyone has a right to their .02. OSO members do truly seem to lean toward the positive displacement types (BDS, Whipple, B&M, etc. but there are also die hard Procharger guys that like the smoothness & resulting durability we enjoy as a "benefit of Procharging". Yes, you can tear up a drive or engine even naturally aspirated. There is also preventative things such as drive showers to help drives live. I am a true believer in Simrek drive showers also, but there are probably 48 other makes that some people swear by.
Bottom line is ...we each pay the price of our decisions/choices we make when modifying a "Marine Appliance!" That price is usually 2-3 times the same mistake in a car, so I want DIFFERING OPINIONS to consider before making a choice. That's what OSO is good for!
YEH TEAM OSO !!

Cat & Mice

93 Formula, Very well said!!

It has always amazed me to see how two simular products can have groups of people that love one and Hate the other. It is like Coke & Pepsi, both are very good and well liked but if you ask some people will say one is great and the other sucks. When in fact they are very simular. People just really like to have thier favorite.

Pyle

bobl

This thread brings up a test I would love to see someone perform...That is run a dyno test comparing the 2 supercharger type on the same engine, same dyno. Maybe a turbo setup also. Maybe even the same comparison on an actual boat install. Sounds like a good magazine test.

Pure Energy

Aside from power range there a 2 important variables that effect blower motors. Initial set up and driver. If you are hard on your motor your motor will be hard on you. Same goes for your drives.